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March 2013

March 31, 2013

+ In the Love of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Every Lent begins with a cross of ashes and the words, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." And every year, as I make that cross of ashes on each forehead, I wonder whether this year, this person will return to dust— and whether perhaps this year I will return to dust.

But on this glorious Easter morning, St. Paul wants us to remember something else: "Remember that Christ has been raised from the dead, and you will be raised from the dead, too." The resurrection of Jesus is good news for us because it means resurrection for us as well, and resurrection for all whom we love— and not because we love them but because God loves them, and God loves us. As St. John writes in his First Letter: "In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins" (4:10).

And that's why St. Paul begins this morning's reading (1 Corinthians 15:19-26) with these words: "If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died."

Here's a more accurate translation: "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep."

Paul uses the Greek verb for sleeping because now that Christ has been raised from the dead, death is temporary, like sleeping. The Greek verb for sleep is koimaō, and the Greek noun for where people sleep is koimētērion— from which we get the word cemetery. In other words, a cemetery is, quite literally, a dormitory, a place for sleeping until we awake on the day of resurrection.

Now why does Paul call Jesus "the first fruits?" In the Old Testament, the first fruits of the harvest, that is, the first crops that were harvested, were dedicated to God, and once the first fruits had been dedicated to God, the rest of the harvest was also holy. In the same way, because Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection harvest, we will be included in the resurrection harvest.

And, to drive home his point, St. Paul puts it another way: "for as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."

When I was growing up, and I am the oldest of seven, and dad would take us on a trip, whether on vacation or just to run errands in the neighborhood, we'd all pile into the station wagon, and at some point dad would ask us, "Who's glad to be alive?" Occasionally one or two of us might have kept sullenly quiet, but most of the time when he asked us, "Who's glad to be alive?!" we'd all shout out, "I am!"

So, let me ask you this morning: "Who's glad to be alive!"

{{Congregational Response}} [I am!]

Well, I'm glad you're glad to be alive! And here's why:

In this morning's Gospel (Luke 24:1-12), Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, go out to the tomb to anoint Jesus with the spices they had prepared. But they discover that the stone has been rolled away and when they go into the tomb the body is gone.

Luke tells us that they were "perplexed."

You think?!

And then the women are terrified when they see two men in dazzling clothes who ask them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"

On the one hand, it seems like a smart-alecky question— after all, the last time the women saw Jesus, his Jesus's body was being placed in the tomb, so when they came to the tomb, they weren't looking for the living!

On the other hand, as the two men remind them, Jesus had told them that he would rise again on the third day.

So the women go back and tell the apostles everything that happened, including, presumably, what the two men had asked them— "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"— and the good news that Jesus had been raised from the dead.

But the apostles don't believe them. And in fact Peter runs to the tomb— apparently looking for the living among the dead!

Is anyone paying attention?!

You see, the only place to look for Jesus is among the living— and sometimes Jesus shows up when we're not looking for him at all.

In Luke's Gospel, the first time Jesus shows up after his resurrection isn't among his apostles, or among the women who went to the tomb; instead, he shows up with two very depressed and tired travelers seven miles outside Jerusalem, who are making their way to the village of Emmaus. And they don't recognize Jesus, until they go into an inn for supper and Jesus takes bread, and blesses it, and breaks it, and gives it to them— and suddenly they recognize Jesus— and he vanishes out of their sight! But in that moment, those depressed and weary travelers are glad to be alive!

In fact, Jesus has a way of showing up where people don't recognize him. And so, on the day of resurrection, Jesus will say to each one of us, "I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was naked, and you gave me something to wear; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me; I was sick and in prison, and you visited me." And we will be astonished, and we will ask him: when did we give him food, and drink, and clothing, and when did we welcome him, and visit him? And he will tell us, "As you did it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:31-46). And then Jesus will tell us that in those moments,those brothers and sisters to whom we ministered were glad to be alive!

And so it is that Jesus has promised that whenever two or three are gathered together in his name, he will be in the midst of us (Matthew 18:20); and that especially when we break the bread and drink the cup, Jesus is here, among the living, among us, among those who are glad to be alive!

March 19, 2013

Vestry members will provide all beverages – coffee, tea, juices – and coffeecake bites, cinnamon rolls and other sweet breads.

We are asking parishioners to bring breakfast casseroles, fruit salads, or other brunch-appropriate dishes! If you plan to attend, please write the dish you plan to bring on the sign-up for the Brunch.

NOTE: Because there are several sign-ups on the Hallway table at this very moment, we will add the Brunch sign-up on Easter week-end.

Of course, do come to the 9:30 am practice regardless of whether you are able to make the brunch! The Vestry

THIS SUNDAY IS PALM SUNDAY

W If you are coming to the Nine O'Clock Service, please go to Founders Hall for the Liturgy of the Palms and our procession around the Church.

W LAST SUPPER RE-ENACTMENT: After the Nine O'Clock procession into the Church, all 3 to 9 year olds and Atrium I & II children will be brought to the upstairs Youth Room by the following catechists: Sharon Henley-Gramer, Paula Hamilton, Shari Benson and Jean Cummings.

All children will return to their parents for Holy Communion, and we won't have church school following this service.

W I am grateful to the people who have signed up for the reading of the Passion Narrative.

Please call the Parish Office to sign up for one of the remaining roles:

Sign up for this family-friendly version of the Great Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 30, starting at 4:30 PM.

All church members are invited to attend this one-hour service, officiated by Mother Meredith Potter.

The readings are conducted by the children.

Special emphasis is made to the meanings of "water" and "light" and their significance at baptism.

We encourage all those attending the service to participate in the potluck as a community and fellowship for Easter.

SIGNUP FOR SPECIAL EASTER FLOWERS AND MUSIC

If you would like to give a donation In Memory Of or In Thanksgiving For a loved one or other special person for our Easter Brass Quintet or the beautiful flowers adorning our Church, please sign up and leave separate checksfor Flower and Music donations. Their names will be listed in our Easter Bulletins.

EASTER EGG HUNT!

After the 9 am Easter service, we will host our annual Easter Egg Hunt for children fifth grade and below.

We will have small bags provided for the hunt, but if you have your favorite Easter basket you are welcome to bring it.

Weather permitting, our hunt will be outside on the grass lawn on the South and East sides of the church. Our inside option will be Founders Hall and the Parker Room.

MISSIONS BOARD UPDATES

Last Tuesday the Vestry approved the Missions Board recommendation to send $3,500 to Bishop Todd McGregor to house families displaced by Cyclone Haruna. I emailed Todd the next day, and he wrote back:

"Dear Bill,

"Praise the Lord. This is incredible. Thanks for letting us know about this and being people reaching people. This has brought tears to my eyes just knowing that we will be able to help 30 more Malagasy families and knowing how generous you all have been to help assist us in this matter.

The Vestry also approved $1,000 for Lawrence Hall Youth Services (www.lawrencehall.org), where Jeff Singleton serves as President of the Board of Trustees, and $1,000 for the Youth Conservation Corps in Waukegan, where Bill Foltz serves as the Americorps VISTA Bridge to College Specialist (www.youthconservationcorps.org).

IN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS . . .

. . . on June 1, 2015, I will reach my "Normal Retirement Date." At last Sunday's practices, I announced my decision to retire on that day. It is important when someone has been around for as long as I have to give the parish adequate time to prepare for the transition to new leadership. We still have over two years of exciting and useful ministry ahead of us!

FIRST COMMUNION FOR CHILDREN

Although all baptized children are invited to receive Holy Communion in the Episcopal Church, some parents prefer that their children be older or confirmed before receiving the Sacrament― or that they participate in a ritual like First Communion as practiced in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran traditions.

Last year we offered a First Communion rite at St. Gregory's for the first time on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, which is Good Shepherd Sunday. Because it was so well received last year, we will offer it again this year on Good Shepherd Sunday, April 21, at the Nine O'Clock Service. This will be especially timely because Bishop Jeffrey D. Lee will be with us that Sunday.

If your child hasn't received Holy Communion before, and you are interested, please let me know.

March 13, 2013

This will be a special service in every way, and one of those ways will be a hymn sing. If you have a favorite hymn or song from the Music Issue, email it to me at WilliamsInk@msn.com or write it on a slip of paper and give it to me no later than Palm Sunday, March 24. We'll sing the top 5 hymns or songs.

CYCLONE HARUNA UPDATE

Dear Friends and Family,

Here is the [March 7] update on the cyclone relief.

Via motorbike, I visited some of the areas that were unable to be reached last week and which are still inaccessible by 4×4 truck. As I rode, I saw destruction of new areas; places hit the hardest due to the dike breaking. Destruction was overwhelming. Cement-block houses (upper level income for Toliara) were ripped apart by the flooding. Roads no longer exist and have become lakes and canals. Many people are taking advantage of the lakes/canals for washing bodies and clothing in unclean water. My heart sank because most likely there will be an outbreak of disease.

USAID and Red Cross have provided a few temporary tent shelters for the tens of thousands of displaced people in Toliara. Medical relief teams give assistance as able. On one hand it is good to know that some of the Malagasy people are taken care of and seemed to be OK, but it becomes overwhelming with the knowledge that this will continue for six months to a year as all the crops have been destroyed. When I entered the displacement camp and they noticed I was Caucasian, the desolate flocked for help.

Official reports conclude 40,000 people been displaced and 26 people have died as a result of the cyclone. However, just in our church four additional deaths have occurred in one week due to the stress and trauma of the cyclone, including one infant baby. [emphasis added]

Every day we get more and more bleak reports of sadness and grief. For me personally, it seems overwhelming and I realize I am out of my league. This is not my specialty and I don't know where to begin and yet at the same time, don't know where to end. However, God gives strength when we are weak. A Cyclone Relief Committee has been formed by the Diocese and we are moving forward. Action plans are into place, a budget set, and the Malagasy team on the ground in Toliara is working hard, assisting in clean-up, reconstructing of fences, and minor repairs.

Shelter, food and clothing remain big issues right now and we have an action plan to purchase and distribute food, pots, pans, and used clothing. In all of the loss, hardship and devastation of Cyclone Haruna, we are encouraged by emails from international and local partners who join with us as People Reaching People, assisting in aide, prayers and financial support. "By this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts. 20:14.

Thank you for your solidarity during this time of crisis. Truly, we are People Reaching People, serving Him Together. I have thanksgiving to God for each one of you. Bishop Todd

THIS SUNDAY— CAREER RENEWAL EVENT: JOB SEARCH COACHING

Join us from 10:15 to Noon at the Holy Cross Church Community Room, 724 Elder Lane. Career Renewal is a support ministry for those seeking employment, sponsored by St. Gregory's Episcopal Church and Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church. Contact Mickey Casner (casnerjm@sbcglobal.net) or Sharon Dieter (sdieter1@aol.com).

BOOK CLUB NEWS

Join the next book club meeting on Wednesday, March 20th, from 7-9 p.m. in the Library for a READER'S CHOICE event. Bring a book (or two) that you have read to share with the group. A list of all books presented will be compiled and distributed after the meeting. We will also choose book selections for the next six months. Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Future dates for the next three months are: April 17th, May 15th, and June 19th. Contact Cissy Singleton for more information.

GO ON ACROSSWALKWITH THE DUTCHERS AND THE ROBERTS

Please consider joining us at the 2nd Annual Crosswalk procession to remember more than 797 children who have been murdered in Chicago since 2008.

It will be held on the Friday before Holy Week, March 22, and begins at St. James Commons, 65 East Huron, in Chicago, at 6:00 PM.

Although this is an Episcopal Church initiative, Crosswalk attracts a number of religious leaders and traditions. You can read more about it at www.crosswalkchicago.org.

If you are like us and feel helpless at the violence reported daily here and across the nation, this event is a way to show support for families who have lost their children and draw attention to the issue. Susie Dutcher, Pastoral Care Visitor

PALM SUNDAY PASSION NARRATIVE CASTING HAS BEGUN

Please choose a role for the Eight, Nine, or Eleven O'Clock readings and sign up on the table opposite the Parish Office.

There are wonderful one-liner roles as well as more substantial opportunities for passionate performances.

EASTER EVE SERVICE OF WATER AND LIGHT

WITH POTLUCK FOLLOWING

Sign up for this family-friendly version of the Great Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 30, starting at 4:30 PM.

EASTER FLOWERS AND MUSIC SIGN-UPS HAVE BEGUN

If you would like to give a donation In Memory Of or In Thanksgiving For a loved one or other special person for our Easter Brass Quintet or the beautiful flowers adorning our Church, please sign up and leave separate checksfor Flower and Music donations.

Their names will be listed in our Easter Bulletins.

A BIT OF HISTORY FROM ARCHIVIST EMERITUS DARRELL ANDERSON

Tuesday, March 12, 1951, is the day that the Vestry of Trinity Church, Highland Park, met to approve a committee for a new church in Deerfield. Mindful of this 62nd anniversary, Darrell sent this email from Pittsboro, NC:

"During my years as Parish Archivist, I learned that our church came very close to being called St. James the Less. For some reason [Bishop Conkling] was not happy with that name but came on board with 'St. Gregory's' especially since the defining moment happened on March 12th.

"When the Bishop came for his first Visitation, he had trouble finding the Masonic Hall [our first temporary home; our second temporary home was Wilmot Elementary School]. After the congregation realized that he was lost someplace in Deerfield, they sent out "search parties," looking for a Baby Blue Cadillac that didn't seem to know where it was going.

"Another historical and interesting fact is that the entire tract of land on which the church and Rectory sits was acquired for the Princely sum of $12,500. How times have changed!"

A MESSAGE FROM KERMIT AND RAQUEL TITRUD

Dear Pastor Bill and our family there,

Just received our statements from our Wycliffe office in Orlando. Thanks once again for your contribution towards the feeding program. Much appreciated. I'll inform those who are involved. I'm sure they will be very happy to be able to continue their feeding program. Please thank the church there for us as well.

All's well here on the island of Mindoro as we work with the three Mangyan language groups. All 11 of the mother tongue translators showed up (having traveled from throughout the island).

Also working with us are 5 other tongue consultants/overseers of the translation teams. One is a native Tagalog speaker, one an Ilonga, one a Cebuana, and two Americans – all of whom I've mentored over the years in their becoming consultants.

We are thankful to our Lord for the very beautiful relations we have with one another. Everyone seems to enjoy everyone. We definitely are experiencing Psalm 133:

הִנֵּ֣המַה־טֹּ֭וב וּמַה־נָּעִ֑ים שֶׁ֖בֶת אַחִ֣ים גַּם־יָֽחַד

How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity. (Psalm 133)

By the way, I also felt this when I was with you all there last month.

March 05, 2013

Join us for a special Adult Forum at 10:10 am when Father Jim Swarthout returns to make the titled presentation.

Over the past few years Jim has served on several local and state mental health boards. Governor Quinn recently appointed Jim to his Mental Health Strategic Task force, where he co-chairs the Child and Adolescent Committee.

With his insight into the ACA (Affordable Care Act) and its impact on mental health issues, Jim's ministry is to connect clergy and congregations around mental health and addiction issues.

CYCLONE HAURNA DEVASTATES TOLIARA DIOCESE IN MADAGASCAR

I first heard about this cyclone when one of our Santa Grégoire parishioners, who helped Ingrid and me during our visit and on our way home, sent this email and pictures. Tolagnaro is on the east coast, Toliara on the west:

"Dear Bishop Todd, I hear many bad things about actual flood in Toliary caused by the last storm. These pictures are shared to me today. I'm very surprised! How is everything in your side? Are you safe? Please give me news about you and all colleagues there. Thanks, Tahin'Andriamanitra [God bless you]. Willy."

Finally, I heard from Todd: "The city has been without electricity for three days now and a majority of the lines are down all over the city. Most likely power will continue to be off for several days. Good thing the Malagasy are still used to cooking with charcoal! Water came back after 48 hours. We are sending this from a friend's hotel (the Hyppocamp) as Anita has invited us over for dinner to share news, exchange stories and help put an American guest at ease. We prepared this group email beforehand and then sent it at her place as she has a generator. We are still unable to check individual emails at this point so please understand if we have not gotten back to you. Please pass this on to others as we are depending upon you all to pass the word.

"We drove around parts of the town which were passable yesterday and today and have seen a lot of damage and a great deal of flooding. The dike broke and the north side of the town is underwater from the stadium. That explains why our Ambohitsabo church is under water. The priest was checking it early yesterday morning when he heard someone running, and blowing a whistle, telling everybody to run, for the dike broke and water was coming. Thinking he had a few more minutes, he continued checking the church, only to realize that it was coming much faster than he realized. Grabbing his bicycle in one hand, Rev. Noely helped a woman with her young baby with the other, forming a chain to get to safety, watching his shoes float away.

"The same priest was leading a baptismal service today in Andranomena, on the south side of town and six miles from this church. During the service someone came running to say the water which broke the dike was now coming into the newly baptized church member's home. Several people left the church service to help evacuate her things which had just put in her father's house yesterday because her house had gone down in the cyclone.

"The president of Ankilifaly church [where Ingrid and I spent time during my Sabbatical] has water up to his chest in his home because of the same incident of the dike breaking. We have not yet heard from our Administrator, but she lives in that part of the city and we are concerned that her home has undergone a lot of damage as well. These are only some of the stories of what is happening here in Toliara. Thank you for keeping all of us in your prayers. If you know of any relief agencies which might able to give assistance and aide, please contact them on our behalf."

Then, this past Saturday, I received this update from Todd: "We have just placed an Anglican I charge of emergency relief. He will then make a better assessment over the next week. We are looking at building 30 temporary houses for 200 people who have lost their homes. This will cost about $3,500."

HOUSING: THEME FOR 2013 MISSIONS BOARD PARISH TITHE

Last year the Missions Board decided that the theme of 'eradicating hunger' would inform the majority of our donations.

After prayerful consideration and discussion, the Missions Board decided that this year the theme will be 'providing housing.' We will direct at least 60% of our donations to organizations that are working to provide shelter for people in need.

Please let a member of the Missions Board know if you are involved with an organization concerned with housing so that we may consider them for a donation.

Join the next book club meeting on Wednesday, March 20th, from 7-9 p.m. in the Library for a READER'S CHOICE event. Bring a book (or two) that you have read to share with the group. A list of all books presented will be compiled and distributed after the meeting. We will also choose book selections for the next six months. Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Future dates for the next three months are: April 17th, May 15th, and June 19th. Contact Cissy Singleton for more information.

GO ON A CROSSWALK WITH THE DUTCHERS AND THE ROBERTS

Please consider joining me and Jon and Ingrid and Bill Roberts at the 2nd Annual Crosswalk procession to remember more than 797 children who have been murdered in Chicago since 2008.

It will be held on the Friday before Holy Week, March 22, and begins at St. James Commons, 65 East Huron, in Chicago, at 6:00 PM.

Although this is an Episcopal Church initiative, Crosswalk attracts a number of religious leaders and traditions. You can read more about it at www.crosswalkchicago.org.

If you are like us and feel helpless at the violence reported daily here and across the nation, this event is a way to show support for families who have lost their children and draw attention to the issue. Susie Dutcher, Pastoral Care Visitor

YOUTH FMSC

Last Saturday St. Gregory's Youth Group went to Feed My Starving Children to prepare meals for El Salvadoran children in poverty. Along with several other groups, we prepared over 4,500 bags of food, each serving a family of 6! FMSC was very well organized and as a result we were able to get a good idea of the impact we were having by our service. Thank you to the youth and volunteers and youth families for your time and donations! Bret Chandler

GET READY FOR ANOTHER DIALOGUE SERMON THIS SUNDAY!

For each passage ask yourself these questions, and bring your answers to the 8, 9, or 11 o'clock Practice:

1. If I wrote this passage as an article for a newspaper, what would my headline be?

2. Is there anything in this passage I don't like?

3. Where does this passage touch my life today?

4. What intrigues me? 5. How is God inviting me to change?

2 Corinthians 5:16-21:

From now on, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32:

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus told them this parable: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"